Being An Older Adult in an Being An Older Adult in an Ageist SocietyAgeist Society

Patricia M. Schwirian, PhD,RNPatricia M. Schwirian, PhD,RN

Professor Emeritus, OSU College of Professor Emeritus, OSU College of NursingNursing

Senior Research Scholar, Senior Research Scholar,

OSU Primary Care Research InstituteOSU Primary Care Research Institute

Senior Faculty Affiliate, Senior Faculty Affiliate,

OSU Office of Geriatrics & GerontologyOSU Office of Geriatrics & Gerontology

JUST REMEMBER:JUST REMEMBER:

Getting old is not for sissiesGetting old is not for sissies

How old would you be if you didn’t know How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were? ( S. Paige, date how old you were? ( S. Paige, date unknown)unknown)

AGEISMAGEISM

What is ageism?What is ageism?

How is ageism manifested?How is ageism manifested?

What is the theoretical basis for ageism?What is the theoretical basis for ageism?

What is the process by which ageism What is the process by which ageism persists?persists?

AGEISM: What Is It?AGEISM: What Is It?

……a term coined by Butler (1969) a term coined by Butler (1969) ““Ageism reflects a deep-seated uneasiness Ageism reflects a deep-seated uneasiness

on the part of young and middle-aged--a on the part of young and middle-aged--a personal revulsion and distaste for growing personal revulsion and distaste for growing old, disease, disability, and fear of old, disease, disability, and fear of powerlessness, “uselessness”, and death”powerlessness, “uselessness”, and death”

THUS:THUS:

In a society that highly values and has great In a society that highly values and has great regard for youth and vitality it is no surprise regard for youth and vitality it is no surprise that ageism exists.that ageism exists.

Ageism is a form of bigotry, just like racism Ageism is a form of bigotry, just like racism and sexismand sexism

Ageism can be seen as a process of Ageism can be seen as a process of systematic stereotyping of and systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because they discrimination against people because they are old, just as racism and sexism are old, just as racism and sexism accomplish this with skin color and genderaccomplish this with skin color and gender

““

““Ageism” became part of the popular Ageism” became part of the popular consciousness in the 70’sconsciousness in the 70’s

Kalish (1979) introduced the concept, a Kalish (1979) introduced the concept, a “New Ageism”“New Ageism”

Characteristics of the “New Characteristics of the “New Ageism”Ageism”

Stereotypes ‘the elderly’ in terms of those Stereotypes ‘the elderly’ in terms of those OA’s who are the least capable, the least OA’s who are the least capable, the least healthy, and the least alerthealthy, and the least alert

Perceive older persons as relatively Perceive older persons as relatively helpless, dependent individuals requiring helpless, dependent individuals requiring support services of agencies and other support services of agencies and other organizationsorganizations

Moreover...Moreover...

Encourages the development of services Encourages the development of services with little concern as to whether the with little concern as to whether the outcome contributes to reduction in outcome contributes to reduction in freedom and decision-making powerfreedom and decision-making power

Produces a stream of criticism against Produces a stream of criticism against society in general for its mistreatment of the society in general for its mistreatment of the elderlyelderly

Kalish says:Kalish says:

““The message of the new ageism seems to The message of the new ageism seems to be that we understand how badly your are be that we understand how badly your are being treated….You are poor, lonely, weak, being treated….You are poor, lonely, weak, incompetent, ineffectual, and no longer incompetent, ineffectual, and no longer terribly bright…we are going to relieve terribly bright…we are going to relieve your suffering from ageism”.your suffering from ageism”.

Ageism Revisited (Bytheway & Ageism Revisited (Bytheway & Johnson, 1990)Johnson, 1990)

Ageism: A set of beliefs originating in the Ageism: A set of beliefs originating in the biological variation between people and biological variation between people and relating to the aging processrelating to the aging process

Ageism is made manifest in the actions of Ageism is made manifest in the actions of corporate bodies--what is said and done by corporate bodies--what is said and done by their representatives and the resulting views their representatives and the resulting views that are held by ordinary aging peoplethat are held by ordinary aging people

Moreover, ageism:Moreover, ageism:

Generates & reinforces fear & denigration Generates & reinforces fear & denigration of the aging process, stereotyping of the aging process, stereotyping assumptions regarding competence, and the assumptions regarding competence, and the need for protectionneed for protection

Consequences range from well-meaning Consequences range from well-meaning patronage to unambiguous villificationpatronage to unambiguous villification

Ageists:Ageists:

Avoid older persons on an individual levelAvoid older persons on an individual level Discriminate in terms of jobs and utilization Discriminate in terms of jobs and utilization

of social institutionsof social institutions Deride older people through hostile humorDeride older people through hostile humor Complain that older people are a drain on Complain that older people are a drain on

society--that they are just taking, not givingsociety--that they are just taking, not giving

MANIFESTATIONS of MANIFESTATIONS of AGEISMAGEISM

In the workplace, OA’s mayIn the workplace, OA’s may

– Be “downsized” firstBe “downsized” first– Be passed over for promotions/raisesBe passed over for promotions/raises– Find their suggestions/observations ignored Find their suggestions/observations ignored

and/or denigratedand/or denigrated– Find it very difficult to get a new jobFind it very difficult to get a new job

In the health care system, OA’s may:In the health care system, OA’s may:

– Be treated as “crocks”Be treated as “crocks”– Be underdiagnosedBe underdiagnosed– Be overmedicated/undermedicatedBe overmedicated/undermedicated– Be patronizedBe patronized– Be automatically ordered as a DNRBe automatically ordered as a DNR– Be excluded from decisions made about their Be excluded from decisions made about their

own careown care

On television, OA’s:On television, OA’s:

– Are largely absent from Saturday AM cartoons Are largely absent from Saturday AM cartoons (unless they are witches)(unless they are witches)

– Show up primarily in ads for health-problem-Show up primarily in ads for health-problem-oriented productsoriented products

– Are depicted in stereotypical fashionsAre depicted in stereotypical fashions

THEORETICAL THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR AGEISMFOUNDATIONS FOR AGEISM Fear of death in Western society; death & old Fear of death in Western society; death & old

age are considered synonymous in American age are considered synonymous in American societysociety

Unrelenting emphasis on the youth cultureUnrelenting emphasis on the youth culture American emphasis on productivity (usually American emphasis on productivity (usually

narrowly defined in terms of economic narrowly defined in terms of economic potentialpotential

The manner in which aging was originally The manner in which aging was originally researchedresearched

How does the ageism “process” work and How does the ageism “process” work and

intensify?intensify?

The Cycle of Structurally Induced The Cycle of Structurally Induced Dependence (Kuypers & Bengston, 1984)Dependence (Kuypers & Bengston, 1984)

Why is it so toxic?Why is it so toxic?

Combatting the Downward SpiralCombatting the Downward Spiral

Realize that older people are part of the Realize that older people are part of the cycle of life; they should not be cycle of life; they should not be compartmentalized into an undiffereniated compartmentalized into an undiffereniated “blob”“blob”

Focus on HEALTH PROMOTION goals as Focus on HEALTH PROMOTION goals as part of healthy agingpart of healthy aging

Give importance to the settings in which Give importance to the settings in which individuals age--these help determine their individuals age--these help determine their health status in old agehealth status in old age

Emphasize strategies that maintain bonding Emphasize strategies that maintain bonding between generationsbetween generations

And Finally: Deal With the And Finally: Deal With the Myths of Aging as They ExistMyths of Aging as They Exist

Source: Rowe, J.W. & Kahn, R.L. (1998). Source: Rowe, J.W. & Kahn, R.L. (1998). Successful Aging: The MacArthur Successful Aging: The MacArthur Foiundation Study. Foiundation Study. New York: Dell New York: Dell Publishing Company.Publishing Company.

(available through Amazon.com) (available through Amazon.com)

Myth #1Myth #1

To be old is to be sickTo be old is to be sick

FACTS based on ResearchFACTS based on Research People are much more likely to age well People are much more likely to age well

than become decrepit & dependentthan become decrepit & dependent Age-related disabilities declining; of those Age-related disabilities declining; of those

65-74 in 1994, a full 89% reported no 65-74 in 1994, a full 89% reported no disability whateverdisability whatever

Myth #2Myth #2

You can’t teach an old dog new tricksYou can’t teach an old dog new tricks

FACTSFACTS Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!

Older people learn differently,but they learnOlder people learn differently,but they learn Flexibility & adaptability are actually hall Flexibility & adaptability are actually hall

marks of successful aging/agersmarks of successful aging/agers

Key Features Predicting Strong Key Features Predicting Strong Mental Function in OA’sMental Function in OA’s

Regular physical activityRegular physical activity

Strong social support systemStrong social support system

Belief in one’s ability to handle what life Belief in one’s ability to handle what life has to offerhas to offer

Myth # 3Myth # 3

The Horse is Out of the BarnThe Horse is Out of the Barn

FACTSFACTS ““Nature is remarkably forgiving”Nature is remarkably forgiving”

““Research shows that it is almost never too Research shows that it is almost never too late to begin healthy habits, such as late to begin healthy habits, such as

smoking cessation, sensible diet, exercise, smoking cessation, sensible diet, exercise, & the like.”& the like.”

Myth #4Myth #4

The secret is choose your parents wiselyThe secret is choose your parents wisely

FACTFACT Swedish Twins Study: only 30% of physical Swedish Twins Study: only 30% of physical aging can be blamed on genes, & about half the aging can be blamed on genes, & about half the

changes in mental functionchanges in mental function

““We are, in large part, responsible for our old We are, in large part, responsible for our old age.”age.”

Myth #5Myth #5

Older adults don’t pull their own weightOlder adults don’t pull their own weight

FACTSFACTS Wrong measures: Only paid work counts as Wrong measures: Only paid work counts as

“productive”“productive” Ageism in the workplaceAgeism in the workplace

Thank You For Coming!Thank You For Coming!